Continuous molding machine post-molding device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed, amongst other things, is a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a continuous molding machine ( 10 ) that includes a frame ( 14 ), a plurality of molding devices ( 16 ) that are mounted to the frame ( 14 ) in a circular array thereon, and a cam ( 31 ) movably linked to both the frame ( 14 ) and to the plurality of molding devices ( 16 ) for driving functions thereof including at least one of: a mold stroke function; a molded article ejection function; a melt handling function; a valve gate function; and a mold clamping function. The continuous molding machine ( 10 ) also includes a first molded article handling device ( 90 ) that is configured to handle just-molded molded articles ( 2 ) from the plurality of molding devices ( 16 ). Moreover, the continuous molding machine ( 10 ) includes a post-molding device ( 68 ), the post-molding device ( 68 ) includes a post-mold cooling table ( 70 ) that is movably linked to the frame ( 14 ) of the continuous molding machine ( 10 ), and a quantity of molded article holders ( 72 ) linked to the post-mold cooling table ( 70 ), the quantity of molded article holders ( 72 ) being configured to receive and hold the just-molded molded articles ( 2 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/554,277 filed Oct. 30, 2006, the entire disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to, but is not limited to,molding machines, and more specifically the present invention relatesto, but is not limited to, a continuous molding machine post-moldingdevice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,329 (Inventor: ULMACHNEIDER, Lawrence, A.,Published: 3 Sep. 1974) describes a continuous injection molding systemthat includes a rotatable rotor member having a plurality of moldassemblies disposed about the periphery thereof. Each mold assembly hasan injection chamber and an openable mold cavity. A stationary moltenplastic supply means is disposed adjacent the periphery of the rotormember and is arranged to supply for example molten thermoplasticmaterial to the injection chamber of a mold assembly as it iscontinuously moved past the supply means. Each mold assembly has aninjection means arranged for movement into the injection chamber afterthe mold assembly has moved past the supply means to inject the moltenthermoplastic material in the injection chamber into the mold cavity.Means is arranged to open each of the molds after the molten materialinjected therein has solidified, and to close the mold after removal ofthe solidified material therefrom and before the mold reaches the supplymeans. The means to open the molds and the injection means include amold lifting hydraulic cylinder and an injection ram, respectively, andcorresponding operating valves which engages and are actuated by astationary cam member as the mold assembly is rotated about thestationary base assembly.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,918,864 (Inventor: BRAUN, Dieter, B., Published: 11 Nov.1975) describes a continuous injection molding system that includes amold that is closed about an elongated element at a receiving location,and synthetic plastic material is introduced into the mold toinjection-mold a synthetic plastic member about the element within themold. The mold with the elongated element is advanced in a circular pathuntil the material of the synthetic plastic member has hardened, andthereupon the mold is opened at a discharging location. The molds areclosed by a pressure ram via a pressure spring as rollers roll alongrails having a wavy configuration.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,148 (Inventor: WISE, Joseph, Published: 21 Mar.1978) describes a continuous injection molding system that includes arotatable wheel having molding cavities formed in the perimeter thereof.Movable coring pins are mounted on the wheel perimeter and have camtrack follower means which ride in stationary cam tracks positionedadjacent the wheel and which move the coring pins in and out of saidcavities as said wheel rotates.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,620 (Inventor: BRUN, Charles, Jr., Published: 1 Jul.1997) describes an injection molding system for serially moldingarticles that includes a circular array of molds, arranged in mold clampassemblies, and a runner system coupling an extruder output with thecircular array of molds. Each clamp assembly includes separate moldactuation mechanisms. The runner system includes an accumulator chamberwhich is defined in part by a vertically reciprocal piston that isactuated by a hydraulic cylinder. A valve is connected between therunner system and an input leading to an accumulator chamber of eachmold of the circular array for sequentially directing the plasticizedresin into each of the molds to form a molded article therein. A moldedarticle extractor sequentially removes the molded article from each ofthe molds, and a molded article handling apparatus coupled to the moldedarticle extractor arranges the molded articles in a series for removalthrough the central area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda continuous molding machine post-molding device. The post-moldingdevice preferably includes a post-mold cooling table movably linked to aframe of a continuous molding machine, a quantity of molded articleholders linked to the post-mold cooling table, the molded articleholders configured to receive and hold just-molded molded articles froma plurality of molding devices that are non-movably connected to theframe and the quantity of molded article holders at least equals a totalnumber of molding cavities defined in the mold structures in thecontinuous molding machine.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda continuous molding machine that includes a frame, a plurality ofmolding devices that are mounted to the frame in a circular arraythereon, and a cam movably linked to both the frame and to the pluralityof molding devices for driving functions thereof including at least oneof: a mold stroke function; a molded article ejection function; a melthandling function; a valve gate function; and a mold clamping function.The continuous molding machine also includes a first molded articlehandling device that is configured to handle just-molded molded articlesfrom the plurality of molding devices. Moreover, the continuous moldingmachine includes a post-molding device, the post-molding device having apost-mold cooling table that is movably linked to the frame of thecontinuous molding machine, and a quantity of molded article holderslinked to the post-mold cooling table, the quantity of molded articleholders being configured to receive and hold the just-molded moldedarticles.

A technical effect, amongst others, of the aspects of the presentinvention is the provision of a continuous molding machine having asimplified configuration whereby complex systems of components, such asthe molding devices, are mounted to a stationary frame.

Preferable embodiments of the present invention are subject of thedependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention (including alternatives and/or variations thereof) may beobtained with reference to the detailed description of the exemplaryembodiments along with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a continuous molding machine accordingto a first exemplary embodiment (which is the preferred embodiment);

FIG. 2 is a side view of the continuous molding machine of FIG. 1 with aframe cover and guard removed;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual exemplary embodiment of the continuous moldingmachine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a first perspective view of a mold according to a firstexemplary embodiment (which is the preferred embodiment) for use in thecontinuous molding machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B is a second perspective view of the mold according to the firstexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4C is a perspective view of a pair of molding devices that includesthe mold of FIGS. 4A & 4B, the molding devices shown mounted on a table(shown in phantom) of the continuous molding machine according of FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rotor of the continuous moldingmachine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a set of cams of the continuous moldingmachine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a hot runner of the continuous moldingmachine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the continuous moldingmachine of FIG. 1 that depicts a first and second molded articlehandling device during a step of transferring molded article from themold to a post-molding device;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the continuous moldingmachine of FIG. 1 that depicts a third molded article handling deviceduring a step of transferring molded article from the post-moldingdevice to a molded article transport device;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a continuous moldingmachine according to a second exemplary embodiment that includes anotherexemplary embodiment of the molded article handling device.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated havingphantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. Incertain instances, details that are not necessary for an understandingof the exemplary embodiments or that render other details difficult toperceive may have been omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

With reference to FIG. 1, a continuous molding machine 10 is shown. Thecontinuous molding machine 10 is configured for a continuous productionof molded articles 2. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, themolded articles 2 are preforms of the type that are subsequently blowmolded into bottles (not shown). The preforms are preferably injectionmolded from a molding material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).Of course, other types of molded articles may be made from a variety ofresins and in accordance with other molding processes (e.g. compressionmolding, extrusion molding, etc.).

In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the continuous moldingmachine 10 includes a stationary frame 14 upon which are mounted aplurality of molding devices 16 in a circular array. Rotatably mountedto the frame 14 is a rotor 30 that upon rotation will drive the moldingdevices 16 through a cycle of operations as will be described in detailhereinafter. The continuous molding machine 10 also includes a hotrunner 40 for distribution of molding material to the molding devices16. The continuous molding machine 10 also preferably includes apost-molding device 68 for post-mold cooling of the molded articles oncethey have been removed from the molding devices 16. Furthermore, thecontinuous molding machine 10 also preferably includes a molded articletransport device 80 for transport of the molded articles 2 from thepost-molding device 68, or directly from the molding devices 16, to anauxiliary process such as a blow molding machine (not shown), or tostorage and/or packaging of the molded articles 2.

In accordance with another non-limiting embodiment (not shown), theplurality of the mold structures 16 may be arranged in a linear array.In such an embodiment, the cam 31 may be movably linked, linearly, tothe frame 14 and to the mold structure 16. In operation, the cam body isconfigured to be linked to the frame 14 and to the mold structure 16 forlinear motion relative thereto to drive the plurality of the moldstructures 16 that are arranged in the linear array.

The structure of the frame 14 will now be described in more detail. Theframe 14 includes a frame cover 20 that provides an annularly-shapedwall covering a periphery of a sub-frame 15. For safety, a guard 12 isarranged above a top surface of the frame cover 20. The guard 12preferably includes a movable gate (not shown) through which themechanisms within the continuous molding machine may be accessed forsake of maintenance. The sub-frame 15 is shown in FIG. 2 as including aseries of base uprights 26 that extend upwardly from outer ends of basespokes 24, the base spokes 24 extending radially from a central hub 11.A top surface of the base upright 26 provides a mounting surface for acollector track 82 of the molded article transport device 80. The baseupright 26 also includes an inwardly extending member (not shown) forsupporting an annular table 22. The annular table 22 is preferably anannular shaped body that is configured to provide a stationary base uponwhich the plurality of molding devices 16 may be mounted. Theannularly-shaped table 22 is preferably concentrically mounted with thecentral hub 11 of the sub-frame 15. The molding devices 16 arepreferably are preferably arranged in an equi-angularly spaced circulararray around the table 22 as shown in FIG. 1 (Not all of the moldingdevices 16 of the array are shown in FIG. 1).

With reference to FIGS. 1, 5 & 6 the rotor 30 is shown in greaterdetail. The rotor 30 includes a rotor hub 32 with a plurality of rotorspokes 33 radially extending therefrom. Downwardly extending from theends of the rotor spokes 33 are rotor uprights 34. On the inside surfaceof the rotor uprights 34 are shown an upper roller 118 and a lowerroller 119. The upper and lower rollers 118 and 119 are configured torotatably engage a top and a bottom surface of the table 22 for guidablysupporting an outer periphery of the rotor 30 as it rotates around thetable 22. On an outside surface of the rotor uprights 34 is a coolingtable mount 116. The cooling table mount 116 configured to rotatablyconnect a post-mold cooling table 70 (FIG. 1) of the post-molding device68 between a set of rollers. In particular, the cooling table mount 116includes a bottom roller 126 configured to rotatably engage a bottomsurface of the cooling table 70, and a pair of side rollers 124configured to rotatably engage an inside and an outside circular sidesurface of the cooling table 70. A top roller 122 mounted on the outsidesurface of the of the rotor upright 34 engages a top surface of thecooling table 70. An inwardly extending hook feature at the base of therotor upright 34 provides a cam mount 39 for receiving a shooting potcam 31C. An inside surface of the rotor upright 34, just above the upperroller 118, provides a side cam mount 110 for receiving a mold strokecam 31B. Extending between a pair of rotor uprights 34 is a bottom cammount 114 for receiving a shooting pot cam 31C. The bottom surface ofthe rotor spoke 33 provides a top cam mount 112 for receiving a clampingcam 31A. Also provided between a pair of the rotor uprights 34, abovethe bottom cam mount 114, is a handling device mount 117. The handlingdevice mount 117 preferably configured to receive a pair of moldedarticle handling devices including a first molded article handlingdevice 90 and second molded article handling device 92. The first moldedhandling device retrieves the just-molded molded articles 2 from themolding devices 16 whereas the second molded article handling device 92re-handles the molded articles 2 from the first molded article handlingdevice 90 to a holder 72 mounted to the top surface of the post-moldcooling table 70 (reference FIG. 1). Lastly, a drive 28 for rotation ofthe rotor 30 relative to the frame 14 is shown in FIG. 5, the drive 28is preferably mounted to the sub-frame 15 with a belt connection to therotor hub 32 for rotation of the rotor 30. Another drive (not shown) islocated between the rotor 30 and the cooling table 70 for rotation ofthe cooling table relative to the rotor.

With reference to FIGS. 1 & 7, the hot runner 40 will now be describedin more detail. The hot runner 40 includes the main melt conduit 42 thatextends through the frame cover 20 that provides a connection between anextruder (not shown) and a hub melt distributor 44. The extruder ispreferably configured to operate in a continuous manner, althoughoperation in a semi-continuous manner is not precluded. The main meltconduit 42 as shown in FIG. 2 includes a downwardly extending portionand an upwardly extending portion 42′ such that the melt conduit 42 doesnot interfere with the molding device 16 mounted to the table 22.Extending radially from the hub melt distributor 44 is a plurality ofradially extending spoke melt conduits 46. In accordance with anexemplary embodiment, the spoke melt conduits 46 are T-shaped with a topportion of the “T” configured to include several melt drops that feedseveral manifolds 47. The manifolds 47 preferably include a series offingers that each includes a melt drop for feeding a separate moldingdevices 16 with molding material. Those skilled in the art wouldappreciate that the configuration of the hot runner 40 may be variedconsiderably and that the connections between the components of the hotrunner 40 and with the molding devices 16 includes a seal (not shown)that accommodates radial and lateral thermal expansion of thecomponents. In the exemplary embodiment a sliding seal (not shown) isconfigured at an interface between the components by the provision of acompressive sealing force across the interface as is generally known tothose skilled in the art. The description of the seals will not bedescribed in any further detail as the provision of such is within theskill of those in the art.

With reference to FIG. 3, a simplified conceptual depiction of thecontinuous molding machine 10 is shown that readily depicts thestructure and operation of the continuous molding machine. Inparticular, the conceptualized continuous molding machine 10 includes asingle molding device 16 mounted on the table 22 and that the rotor 30is represented by a single spoke. Shown in space (partially) but inreality connected to the rotor 30 are a clamp cam 31A, a mold stroke cam31B, and a shooting pot cam 31C. In addition, a simplified hot runner 40is shown feeding molding material to the molding devices 16 from thebottom of the mold out of view. In operation, the rotor 30 is made torotate about the table 22 and that as the rotor 30 sweeps around themolding devices 16 the cams 31A, 31B, and 31C interact with the moldingdevice 16 to cause the operation of various molding functions. Theinteraction between the cams 31A, 31B, and 31C and the molding device 16preferably imparts at least a portion of the energy required to performthe molding functions. The molding functions include, but not limitedto, a mold stroke function, a molded article ejection function, an melthandling function, a valve gate function, and a mold clamping function,as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

With reference to FIG. 4C it is shown the exemplary embodiment of themolding device 16 includes a mold 50. As best shown with reference toFIG. 4A the mold 50 includes a frame 51 that is configured to bemountable to the table 22. The frame 51 includes a linear race 52 on afront surface thereof. Running on the linear race are linear bearings 53for slidably connecting core and stripper plates 54 and 56. Accordingly,the core plate 54 and the stripper plate 56 may ride up and downrelative to the frame 51 in a guided manner. A cam follower 61A isprovided on an exposed side surface of the core plate 54. Likewise a camfollower 61B is provided on a similarly exposed face of the stripperplate 56. The cam followers 61A and 61B are configured to cooperate witha mold stroke cam profile 120A and ejection cam profile 120B that areprovided as tracks in the mold stroke cam 31B, as shown with referenceto FIG. 6. A closer inspection of the cam profiles 120A and 120B willreveal that as the mold stroke cam is driven past the stationary camfollowers 61A and 61B of the mold 50, that the core plate 54 andstripper plate 56 will be forced to move up and down relative to thetable 22 whereby the mold functions of mold stroke and ejection areprovided.

With reference again to FIG. 4A, a pair of slides 57 are shown that areguidably mounted to the stripper plate 56 by guides. The slides 57 areconfigured to receive a bifurcated pair of split inserts 58 (commonlyknown as ‘neck rings’) which may be configured to form a trapped outerportion of the molded article (such as a thread finish of a preform).With reference to FIG. 4B, it is shown that the slides 57 are driven toengage and disengage the split inserts 58 by action of a mold cam 62interacting with a pair of cam followers 61C that are connected on aside surface of the slides 57. Accordingly, as the stripper plate 56 ismoved relative to the core plate 54 by virtue of the cam profiles andthe mold stroke cam 31B, the slides may be operated between the engagedconfiguration and the disengaged configuration. Accordingly the moldedarticle may be stripped from the molding surface of a core insert 55that is mounted to the core plate 54. The core insert 55 is configuredto mold an inner surface of the molded article. Lastly, the mold 50includes a cavity plate 59 that is configured to be mountable directlyto the table 22. The cavity plate 59 is configured to receive a cavityinsert 60 which forms an outer surface of the molded article that isn'totherwise formed by the split inserts 47.

With reference to FIG. 4C, further detail of the mold 50 is shown,including a cam follower 61F that is configured on a top surface of thecore plate 54. The cam follower 61F configured to engage with a moldclamp camming profile 120F that is provided along a bottom surface ofthe clamp cam 31A as shown in FIG. 6. Accordingly, as the clamp cam 31Ais driven past the cam follower 61F, a clamping force may be impartedthereby to keep the mold 50 closed during injection of the moldingmaterial whereby the mold clamping function is provided.

The molding device 16 also includes a shooting pot actuator 48 that isconfigured to cooperate with a shooting pot (not shown). The shootingpot is preferably defined in the manifold 47 for injecting moldingmaterial into the mold 50. The shooting pot is preferably configured tohold a single shot of molding material sufficient to fill a moldingcavity defined within the mold 50, preferably with a small buffer ofsmall buffer of molding material. The shooting pot actuator 48 is fed bythe manifold 47 of the hot runner 40. The structure of shooting pots iswell known to those skilled in the art and hence will not be describedin any further detail. The shooting pot actuator 48 includes a frame 100mountable on the bottom of the table 22. On a face of the frame 100 isprovided a linear race 102 upon which rides a linear bearing 103slidably connecting a bearing block 104 to the frame 100. Mounted on thetop face of the bearing block 104 is a piston rod 106, the opposite endof the piston rod 106 being received in, and co-operable with theshooting pot defined in the manifold 47. On a front face of the bearingblock 104 is provided a cam follower 61D that is configured to engagewith an injection cam profile 120D configured in the shooting pot cam31C (reference FIG. 6). Accordingly, as the shooting pot cam 31C rotatesabout or relative to the molding device 16, the cam follower 61D ridingin the cam profile 120D will cause the piston rod 106 to extend into theshooting pot for injecting the molding material into the holding cavityand for subsequently retracting from the shooting pot whereby a nextshot of molding material is drawn therein whereby the melt handlingfunction is provided. The cam profile 120D may be configured as a trackthat positively traps the cam follower 61D between upper and lowerprofiles.

Alternatively, the cam profile (not shown) may have a single profile andthat the cam follower 61D is kept engaged with the single cam profile bymeans of a spring-bias linking the bearing block 104 with the table 22.

As a further alternative (not shown), the continuous molding machine mayforego a cam actuation of the shooting pot actuators 48 in favor of aindependently controllable linear actuators (such as a linear motor,hydraulic cylinder, etc.). In so doing, additional processingflexibility can be retained in the system where required.

Preferably, the device further includes a valve gate actuator 49 for thepositioning of a valve pin (not shown) that controllably connects themolding cavity to the shooting pot. The valve gate actuator 49 ispreferably configured in the same manner as the shooting pot actuator48. Accordingly, a cam follower 61E is arranged in a valve gate camprofile 120E of the shooting pot cam 31C for actuation of the valve pinwhereby the valve gate function is provided. Alternatively, the manifold47 may be configured to include a thermally gated nozzle, whereby thevalve gate actuator would not be required.

The post-mold cooling device 68 in FIG. 8 will now be described in moredetail. The post-mold cooling device 68 includes a post-mold coolingtable 70 rotatably mounted to the rotor 30, as described previously,with a plurality of molded article holders 72 arranged in equi-angularlyspaced circular array on a top surface of the table. Alternatively, thecooling table 70 may be rotatably connected to the frame 14 directly (asopposed to indirectly via the rotor 30). The mold article holders 72 arepreferably water-cooled tubes such as those described in commonlyassigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,732 (Inventor: SCHAD, Robert, Published: 8Mar. 1988) for providing additional cooling of the molded article 2. Therotor 30 may include a rotary manifold (not shown) for connecting themolded article holders 72, via a network of channels in the coolingtable 70, with a source/sink of coolant.

The arrangement of the molded article holders 72 on the post-moldcooling table 70 may have a simple low density configuration as shown inreference to arrangement ‘A’, in FIG. 1, in which case there is aone-to-one relationship with one molded article holder 72 for eachmolding device 16. Alternatively, there may be a many-to-onerelationship with multiples of molded article holders 72 arranged on thetable relative to the number of molding devices 16. For example, withreference to arrangement ‘B’, in FIG. 1, there are provided threecircular and concentric rows of molded article holders 72 with thecorresponding holders 72 of the rows being radially aligned on thecooling table 70. As a further alternative, the additional moldedarticle holders 72 may be interlaced between the primary molded articleholders 72 along a common circular row around the periphery of thetable, as shown with reference to arrangement ‘C’, in FIG. 1.

To remove the molded articles 2 from molded article holder 72 forplacement into the molded article transport device 80, there is provideda third molded article handling device 98 that is mounted on the frame14 of the continuous molding machine 10 as shown with reference to FIG.9.

With reference to FIG. 8, the first and second molded article handlingdevices 90 and 94 can be seen as including a molded article holder 92and picker 96, respectively, mounted at the end of an arm, the arm beingrotatably mounted to the handling device mount 117 on the rotor 30. Inoperation, the arm of the first molded article handling device 90 willrotate to position the holder 92 to retrieve a molded article 2 from themold 50, whereupon the arm will rotate again to position the moldedarticle 2 outside of the mold 50. Once outside of the mold 50, themolded article 2 is removed from the holder 92 by the picker 96 of thesecond molded article handling device 94, whereupon the arm of thesecond molded article handling device 94 will rotate to position themolded article 2 for insertion into the molded article holder 72. Thefirst and second molded article handling devices may also include anactuator for a raising and lowering of the holder 92 and/or picker 96 toassist in acquiring and releasing of the molded article 2. In theexemplary embodiment the mold stroke cam 31B includes a part handlingwindow 121 through which the holder 92 of the first molded articlehandling device 90 intermittently extends to access the molded articles2 as they are released from the mold 50.

To synchronize a continuous placement of the just-molded articles 2 intoempty molded article holders 72, the cooling table 70 is rotated at adifferent angular rate than the rotor 30. The cooling table 70 may berotated faster or slower than the rotor 30.

With reference to FIG. 9, the molded article transport device 80includes an outlet track 84 for transport of the molded articles 2 awayfrom the continuous molding machine 10 to the auxiliary process,storage, and/or packaging operations of the molded articles 2 asdescribed hereinbefore. With reference to FIG. 1, it is shown that themolded article transport device 80 further includes an optional circularcollector track 82 for additional buffering of molded articles 2 afterthey have been removed from the post-molding device 68 by the thirdmolded article handling device 98. The track 82 includes a device (notshown) for transporting the molded articles 2 along the track 82. Thedevice may include, for example, a paddle rotatably driven around thecollector track 82 by a chain or other type of mechanical device. Theprovision of the collector track is optional.

With reference to FIG. 10, an exemplary alternative embodiment of thefirst molded article handling device 290 is shown. The molded articlehandling device 290 includes a base 291, a base arm 299 rotatablymounted to the base, a slide arm 293 slidably linked to the base arm 299with a molded article holder 292 configured at a free end thereof, a cam295 non-rotatably linked to the base 291. The slide arm 293 configuredto be movably linked to the cam 295 for driving a sliding of the slidearm 293 with respect to the base arm 299, whereby the molded articleholder 292 is translatable along a profiled path for retrievingjust-molded articles from a molding device 16 of a continuous moldingmachine 10. Preferably, the cam 295 defines a profiled path for theholder 292 that includes a first tracking portion 297 that allows themolded article holder 292 to track with the molding device 16 as therotor 30 sweeps there-past. Likewise, the cam 295 also preferablydefines the profiled path to include a second tracking portion 297 thatallows the molded article holder 292 to track with another moldedarticle handling device or the molded article holder 72 of apost-molding device 68 as the rotor 30 sweeps there-past. In theexemplary embodiment the slide arm 293 and the cam 295 are movablylinked by a cam follower 294 rotatably linked to the slide arm 293, thecam follower 294 driven along a cam profile 298 in the cam 295 by therotation of the base arm 299.

In accordance with another alternative embodiment of the invention (notshown) at least one of the handling devices 90, 94, 98 may be configuredto position an insert (not shown) in the molding device 16. The insertmay be, for example, a volume of molding material to be compressionmolded in the molding device 16. Alternatively, the insert could, forexample, be a label, a neck finish, a radio frequency identificationdevice, etc.

The description of the exemplary embodiments provides examples of thepresent invention, and these examples do not limit the scope of thepresent invention. It is understood that the scope of the presentinvention is limited by the claims. The concepts described above may beadapted for specific conditions and/or functions, and may be furtherextended to a variety of other applications that are within the scope ofthe present invention. Having thus described the exemplary embodiments,it will be apparent that modifications and enhancements are possiblewithout departing from the concepts as described. Therefore, what is tobe protected by way of letters patent are limited only by the scope ofthe following claims:

1. A continuous molding machine post-molding device, the post-moldingdevice comprising: a post-mold cooling table movably linked to a frameof a continuous molding machine; a quantity of molded article holderslinked to the post-mold cooling table, the molded article holdersconfigured to receive and hold just-molded molded articles from aplurality of molding devices that are non-movably connected to theframe; and the quantity of molded article holders at least equals atotal number of molding cavities defined in the mold structures in thecontinuous molding machine.
 2. The post-molding device according toclaim 1, wherein: the quantity of molded article holders is a multipleof the total number of molding cavities defined in the mold structuresin the continuous molding machine.
 3. The post-molding device accordingto claim 1, wherein: the post-mold cooling table is rotatably linked tothe frame and the quantity of molded article holders are arranged in acircular array on the post-mold cooling table.
 4. The post-moldingdevice according to claim 2, wherein: the quantity of molded articleholders is a multiple of the total number of molding cavities defined inthe mold structures in the continuous molding machine and wherein themultiples of molded article holders are interlaced in a single circularrow.
 5. The post-molding device according to claim 2, wherein: thequantity of molded article holders is a multiple of the total number ofmolding cavities defined in the mold structures in the continuousmolding machine and wherein the multiples of molded article holders arein concentric circular rows.
 6. A continuous molding machine,comprising: a frame; a plurality of molding devices that are mounted tothe frame in a circular array thereon; and a cam movably linked to boththe frame and to the plurality of molding devices for driving functionsthereof including at least one of: a mold stroke function; a moldedarticle ejection function; a melt handling function; a valve gatefunction; and a mold clamping function; a first molded article handlingdevice that is configured to handle just-molded molded articles from theplurality of molding devices; a post-molding device, the post-moldingdevice comprising a post-mold cooling table that is movably linked tothe frame of the continuous molding machine, and a quantity of moldedarticle holders linked to the post-mold cooling table, the quantity ofmolded article holders being configured to receive and hold thejust-molded molded articles.
 7. The continuous molding machine accordingto claim 6, further comprising: a rotor movably linked to the frame, thecam and the first molded article handling device being connectedthereto.
 8. The continuous molding machine according to claim 2, furthercomprising: a second molded article handling device connected to therotor, the second molded article handling device being configured tohandle the just-molded molded articles between the first molded articlehandling device and the post-molding device.
 9. The continuous moldingmachine according to claims 8, further comprising: a third moldedarticle handling device connected to the frame, the third molded articlehandling device being configured to handle molded articles from thepost-molding device.
 10. The continuous molding machine according toclaim 6, wherein: the quantity of molded article holders at least equalsa total number of molding cavities are defined in the plurality ofmolding devices.
 11. The continuous molding machine according to claim6, wherein: the quantity of molded article holders is a multiple of atotal number of molding cavities defined in the plurality of moldingdevices.
 12. The continuous molding machine according to claim 6,wherein: the quantity of molded article holders are interlaced in asingle circular row.
 13. The continuous molding machine according toclaim 6, wherein: the quantity of molded article holders are arranged inconcentric circular rows.
 14. The continuous molding machine accordingto claim 6, further comprising: a molded article handling device thatcomprises: a base; a base arm rotatably mounted to the base; a slide armslidably linked to the base arm; the slide arm configured to retain amolded article holder; a further cam non-rotatably linked to the base;the slide arm movably linked to the further cam for driving a sliding ofthe slide arm with respect to the base arm; whereby the molded articleholder is translatable along a profiled path for retrieving just-moldedarticles from the plurality of molding devices.
 15. The continuousmolding machine of claim 14, wherein: the base is configured to beconnected to a rotor of the continuous molding machine, the rotorrotatable with respect to the plurality of molding devices of thecontinuous molding machine; the further cam defines the profiled path toinclude a first tracking portion that allows the molded article holderto track with the plurality of molding devices as the rotor sweepsthere-past.
 16. The continuous molding machine of claim 14, wherein: thebase is configured to be connected to a rotor of the continuous moldingmachine, the rotor rotatable with respect to the plurality of moldingdevices of the continuous molding machine; the cam defines the profiledpath to include a second tracking portion that allows the molded articleholder to track with at least one of: another molded article handlingdevice; or the molded article holder of the post-molding device as therotor sweeps there-past.